View finder system with adjustable magnification



350-423 SR SEARCH ROOM Jan. 18, 1955 KLEMT 2,699,700

VIE" FINDER SYSTEM WITH ADJUSTABLE AGNIFICATION Filed larch 15, 1951 1 i 1; 5 L3 g Ur IN ENTOR.

- fill e026 BY AGENT United States Patent VIEW FINDER SYSTEM WITH ADJUSTABLE MAGNIFICATION Giinter Klemt, Kreuznach, Germany, assignor to Jos. Schneider & Co., Kreuznach, Gennany Application March 15, 1951, Serial No. 215,749

Claims priority, application Germany April 11, 1950 2 Claims. (Cl. 881.5)

The present invention relates to a view finder system with adjustable magnification for use in photographic or motion picture cameras.

View finders of the character herein contemplated, consisting of three lens members of which the outer ones are positive lenses and the central one is a negative one, are well known. They may be regarded as an inversion of Galileos telescope and are sometimes referred to as Newton view finders; they may have fixed or variable magnification and have heretofore been employed almost exclusively for narrow-film or miniature picture cameras. Thus, in the case of a 16 mm. film camera the view finder must be adaptable to focal lengths ranging from about 16 mm. to 75 mm., corresponding to field angles on the object side varying from approximately 42 to 9. When the finder is used with a 24 x 36 mm. picture camera, the focal length varies from 35 mm. to 135 mm. and the field angle, correspondingly, from 62 to 18".

Whereas the problems arising in the instances referred to were not too difficult of solution with the aid of view finders of the type heretofore known, it soon became apparent that the same was no longer true for cameras of larger size. In the case of groundglass cameras of the 90 x 120 mm. size, for example, focal lengths ranging from 90 mm. to 360 mm. are being used, corresponding to field angles on the object side varying from 80 to 24. Conventional view finders of the character set forth, when adapted to these conditions, became unduly bulky and gave rise to objectionable image distortion.

The general object of the present invention is, therefore, to provide a view finder system of the general character described which may be adapted to larger-size cameras while avoiding the disadvantages heretofore encountered, and wherein more particularly the bulkiness and she tendency to distortion are substantially elimmate In accordance with a feature of this invention there is provided a three-element view finder wherein the second (negative) lens consists of a material having an index of refraction greater than 1.6.

According to another feature of the invention the view finder may include masking means provided on one of the faces of the first, variably positionable lens mem- I. An embodiment of the invention is shown, somewhat (sicrlgematically, in the sole figure of the accompanying wing.

The view finder shown in the drawin comprises a first, positive lens L1 having a thickness 1 and radii of curvature n, 12; second, negative lens L: having a thickness d: and radu of curvature 1:, r4; and a third, positive lens L1 havmgea thickness ds and radii of curvature n. n. 'ihe spacing tween the lenses L1 and L: has been desxgnated dz and is variable, as shown by the alternative,

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dotted-line position of lens L1, while the distance between the lenses L2 and La has been designated di and is assumed to be fixed.

An image-limiting mask M is provided on one of the faces of the movable lens member L1; as here shown by way of example, this mask is carried by the inner face of the lens which has been illustrated as plane r2=).

Representative values of the parameters r and d shown in the drawing, as well as of the indices of refraction n1, ns and n3 ot' the three lenses L1, L2 and La, have been given, by way of example, in the following table, taking the thickness d: of the central member L: as unity:

T1 L1 1 7L1=1.516

' dz; 0.8 (minimum) 1' OJ L; d3 1.0 1H=L623 d,=42.0 (fixed) 1 =+48.0 L3 d5 2.0 n;=1.516

lt should be understood that departures from the specific arrangement illustrated and from the precise values given above are possible within the spirit of the invention and without exceeding its scope as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A view finder system with adjustable magnification, comprising a first, positive lens member, a second, negative lens member and a third, positive lens member, the distance between said first and said second lens member being variable, the distance between said second and said third lens member being fixed, the radii of curvature r1, re, the thickness di and the index of refraction n1 of said first lens member L1, the radii of curvature in, r4, the thickness (13 and the index of refraction n: of said second lens member L2, and the radii of curvature r5, rs, the thickness d and the index of refraction na of said third lens member L3 having numerical values, based upon a value of unity for said thickness d3, substantially as given in the following table:

the numerical value of said fixed distance being sub stantially 42, the distance between said first and second lens members being variable between a value of the order of said fixed distance and a fraction thereof.

2. A view finder system according to claim 1, further including masking means provided on one of the faces of said first lens member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,043,900 Mihalyi June 19, 1936 2,105,256 Mihalyi Ian. 11, 1938 2,250,337 Warmisham July 22, 1941 2,353,565 Ka relian July 11, 1944 2,578,574 M es Dec. 11, 1951 

